What is it really like to cover Donald Trump up close, and what are political reporters seeing as the 2026 midterms approach?

In this episode of Liberty + Leadership, Roger Ream sits down with Audrey Fahlberg, Washington correspondent for The Free Press and a 2024 TFAS Robert Novak Journalism Fellow. Audrey shares stories from the campaign trail, Capitol Hill and Air Force One, including the moment President Trump yelled at her after she asked him a question about China and tariffs.

Roger and Audrey also examine the forces reshaping American politics ahead of the midterms. They discuss the growing influence of Democratic Socialists, divisions inside the Democratic Party, questions surrounding corruption and self-dealing, immigration enforcement, tensions within the MAHA movement and whether Republicans can maintain control of Congress.

Audrey also reflects on breaking major political stories, what it takes to develop sources in Washington and how journalism is changing as reporters increasingly compete for audiences through video, social media and personality-driven news. She explains why persistence, sometimes to the point of being “a little annoying,” remains one of the most important skills a young reporter can develop.

The Liberty + Leadership Podcast is hosted by TFAS president Roger Ream and produced by Podville Media. If you have a comment or question for the show, please email us at podcast@TFAS.org. To support TFAS and its mission, please visit TFAS.org/support.

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Senator Rand Paul joins Liberty + Leadership for a wide-ranging conversation on his investigation into the government’s COVID-19 response, his fight against federal waste and overreach, and a question that could have major implications for 2028: could Senator Paul make another run for the White House?

Paul discusses his ongoing investigation into Dr. Anthony Fauci and gain-of-function research, including his efforts to obtain testimony and records related to the government’s handling of the pandemic. He also explains why he believes the lack of transparency during the pandemic damaged public trust in health institutions and what reforms he wants Congress to pursue.

Roger and Senator Paul also examine fraud and waste in federal programs, presidential emergency powers, tariffs, free trade and why Paul believes constitutional principles are hardest to defend when members of the same political party hold power. He argues that Republicans have moved away from traditional positions on limited government and trade and explains where he believes the party should go next.

The Liberty + Leadership Podcast is hosted by TFAS president Roger Ream and produced by Podville Media. If you have a comment or question for the show, please email us at podcast@TFAS.org. To support TFAS and its mission, please visit TFAS.org/support.

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In this episode of Liberty + Leadership, TFAS professor Anne Bradley guest hosts a conversation with Emma Camp, senior editor of The Wall Street Journal’s “Free Expression” newsletter and a 2025 Robert Novak Fellow.

Anne and Emma begin with Emma’s viral video celebrating the “humble American supermarket” and what its shelves can teach us about economic freedom. They look at how global trade, competition and technological innovation produce an extraordinary variety of choices that can be easy to take for granted. The conversation then turns to why Emma believes there is a need for a more optimistic case for capitalism.

They examine why capitalism is often blamed for problems created or worsened by government intervention, including housing shortages and rising costs, as well as rent control, state-run grocery stores, the tradeoffs behind expansive government programs and the “fixed pie” mentality that treats economic gains as a zero-sum contest.

Emma also reflects on her own intellectual journey toward free-market ideas, her effort to make basic economic concepts accessible to younger audiences and how her TFAS Robert Novak Fellowship helped give her the time and freedom to work on her forthcoming book, “No Hard Feelings.”

The Liberty + Leadership Podcast is hosted by TFAS president Roger Ream and produced by Podville Media. If you have a comment or question for the show, please email us at podcast@TFAS.org. To support TFAS and its mission, please visit TFAS.org/support.

Support the show